In this lesson you will be learning a variation on the right hand crotchets groove construction concept, you can find a link to the original lesson at the bottom of the page. The idea is to take that right hand rhythm and start it one eighth note later. As discussed in the lesson link above, the groupings you would expect to see in this time signature would be either dotted crotchets or four sets of three quavers, but in these grooves you will be playing the equivalent of six crotchets. This gives the groove a more 'simple time signature' feel and can provide a really cool variation when a piece uses straight 12/8 throughout.
There are two ways to notate the right hand part. The first is to follow the groupings rules of compound time signatures and the second is to follow the rules of simple time signatures. The compound version looks like this.
And the simple time version like this:
I find the second of these represents the fact that the right hand is playing an odd grouping best and it is also a little less cluttered so this form of notation will be used in all examples below. In terms of playing this part, the right hand falls on all even numbered counts. So beats '2', '4', '6', '8', '10' and '12' will have right hands played on them.
Listed below are some examples of this right hand concept applied with kicks and snares. For this first lesson I haven't added any 16th notes, but you will cover this in a later lesson. In the first groove I have deliberately used constant eighth notes to make where the right hands fall a little clearer.
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Example 5
Example 6
TASKS
- Using the 2 minute rule, get all grooves up to a tempo of at least 120bpm.
- Create your own variations on these patterns. Write as many down as possible.
- Use these patterns as part of a Structured Pattern. This idea works well as both a fill or groove.